BMW Engines Build in America?

by Bernie McGroarty on December 13, 2013, 12:39 am

According to a recent article by The Detroit News, BMW is looking into expanding their vehicle production and also possibly building engines in North America. It's said that this would be done to capitalize on growing vehicle demand.

Building engines outside of Europe, was something that BMW just didn't do, until last year. Production of 4-cylinder engines began in Shenyang, China, to supply their local plants. This new engine plant may find its home in either Mexico or the US. A decision on this project could come in 2014.

Here are some highlights from the Detroit News article:

“As part of our long-term growth strategy, we’re frequently looking at different countries for possible locations of future production facilities,” Mathias Schmidt, a BMW spokesman, said by phone. “No decisions have been made yet, though, for an additional plant.”

BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are adding production in North America to take advantage of sales-growth potential that contrasts with stagnating demand in their home market of Europe.

The Spartanburg factory will start making BMW’s new X4 SUV in 2014. Stuttgart-based Daimler expanded Mercedes production at Tuscaloosa in mid-2013 as part of a global effort to meet sales growth, and it will add the next version of the midsized C-Class sedan there in 2014. Ingolstadt-based Audi laid the cornerstone in May for a $1.3 billion, 150,000-car plant in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico, that will begin making the Q5 SUV in 2016.

The company’s expansion is part of its effort to maintain an edge over Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which have both vowed to surpass BMW in sales by the end of the decade.

I doubt there would be any quality issues. The Upstate (Spartanburg) plant has a very good quality record. As long as BMW can run their own shop ie no union or being forced to hire criminals to avoid being sued, I would not forsee any issues. N4S

gkr778 commented: December 13, 2013, 10:43 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBeard

Would this have any effect on their quality?

Quality may be enhanced, just by virtue of the new production facilities incorporating the latest manufacturing technology and processes within BMW Group.

AlAMAT commented: December 13, 2013, 11:56 am

Will this have an impact on doing ED on some models? I was told that the X3 and X5 was not available for ED as they are made here in the US. Any truth in that?

gkr778 commented: December 13, 2013, 1:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlAMAT

I was told that the X3 and X5 was not available for ED as they are made here in the US. Any truth in that?

That's correct. X3, X5, and X6 are not eligible for BMW of North America's ED program.

hh3uunp commented: December 17, 2013, 9:22 pm

good thing they are only building the 4 bangers in china because I will never own one

need4speed commented: December 18, 2013, 9:45 am

If the vehicle is built in North America you can't do an ED. Thats why no ED on the SUV/SAV. If it is just the motors it should not effect a ED for a Euro built car. N4S

3star commented: December 18, 2013, 10:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by need4speed

I doubt there would be any quality issues. The Upstate (Spartanburg) plant has a very good quality record. As long as BMW can run their own shop ie no union or being forced to hire criminals to avoid being sued, I would not forsee any issues. N4S

mercedes benz.

I like the jobs but call me closed minded but I want a german BMW

Dave 20T commented: December 18, 2013, 8:26 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3star

mercedes benz.

I like the jobs but call me closed minded but I want a german BMW

I understand what you mean. I have confidence that American workers do not sabotage their handiwork or are excessively sloppy. Still, I have certain biases. I would not want a BMW made in India, People's Republic of China, Egypt, or Russia, countries where BMWs are assembled. I would probably agree to Thailand, Australia, Brazil, and Finland, countries where other car companies make cars.

The Mercedes CLA is made in Hungary. Some BMWs are made in the former East Germany.

ProRail commented: December 18, 2013, 11:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave 20T

I understand what you mean. I have confidence that American workers do not sabotage their handiwork or are excessively sloppy. Still, I have certain biases. I would not want a BMW made in India, People's Republic of China, Egypt, or Russia, countries where BMWs are assembled. I would probably agree to Thailand, Australia, Brazil, and Finland, countries where other car companies make cars.

The Mercedes CLA is made in Hungary. Some BMWs are made in the former East Germany.

In fact, both BMW and Mercedes have state-of-the-art plants in Leipzig.

ProRail commented: December 19, 2013, 12:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3star

mercedes benz.

I like the jobs but call me closed minded but I want a german BMW

In any country, the workers build the car that management wants them to build. BMW plants all over the world build quality cars. In the US, when GM wanted crap cars the workers built them. Now that GM (and the customer) values quality cars, the workers build them.

3star commented: December 19, 2013, 12:44 am

dont matter i want the made in germany stickers and the german words i cant understand

335i Driver commented: December 19, 2013, 1:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkr778

That's correct. X3, X5, and X6 are not eligible for BMW of North America's ED program.

Yes, but you can do US delivery, and drive it on those great American Autobahn's.

gkr778 commented: December 19, 2013, 9:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3star

dont matter i want the made in germany stickers and the german words i cant understand

You can always contact the German Consulate General office in Houston and ask about immigrating to Germany.

CitizenOfDreams commented: December 19, 2013, 11:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3star

dont matter i want the made in germany stickers and the german words i cant understand

This. "Made in Germany" is a part of BMW's magic. If I wanted an American made car I'd just buy a Toyota.

Ginobass commented: December 20, 2013, 3:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CitizenOfDreams

This. "Made in Germany" is a part of BMW's magic. If I wanted an American made car I'd just buy a Toyota.

+1.

I want my Scotch from Scotland, my Bourbon from Kentucky, and my BMW from Germany.

dhstadt commented: December 20, 2013, 6:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3star

dont matter i want the made in germany stickers and the german words i cant understand

You can go on ebay, buy those stickers, paste them on your KIA and be happy for ever.

Andrew*Debbie commented: December 21, 2013, 5:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave 20T

The Mercedes CLA is made in Hungary. Some BMWs are made in the former East Germany.

BMWs built in Austria and South Africa are in the US too.

Most BMW 4-cylinder engines are built in England. So is the new 3-cylinder.

We've owned BMWs built in Germany, Austria and the US. Our MINI was built in England. I didn't see any quality difference between any of them.

Highest number of problems requiring warranty repair (2) was on a German built one.

CitizenOfDreams commented: December 21, 2013, 10:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew*Debbie

BMWs built in Austria and South Africa are in the US too.

Most BMW 4-cylinder engines are built in England.

If I wanted a 4-cylinder car, I'd buy a Toyota. And if I wanted a British engine i'd buy a Jaguar or a Triumph.

Andrew*Debbie commented: December 21, 2013, 11:06 am

Ahh but you aren't paying ~ $9.00 for a gallon of fuel. I like the post-Ford Jaguars. I have a friend who works for Jaguar-Landrover as a design engineer. The F-Type is not bad at all. They've got some amazing improvements to the current car in the works.

Odd you mention Toyota. Did you know they have started using BMW engines in a few models sold in the EU? Verso has a BMW diesel now and the Auris will soon.